UC survey: Value of education falling, but quality intact

May 13, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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UC Irvine students walk to class in this 2007 photo. About four in five undergraduate students recently expressed at least some level of satisfaction with the quality of their education, but barely half of UC Irvine undergraduates were satisfied with its value, according to the findings of a new UC student survey. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

UC Irvine students walk to class in this 2007 photo. About four in five undergraduate students recently expressed at least some level of satisfaction with the quality of their education, but barely half of UC Irvine undergraduates were satisfied with its value, according to the findings of a new UC student survey. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The perceived value of a University of California education has fallen precipitously, but undergraduate students across the UC system are reporting they're still satisfied with instructional quality and course availability, according to the findings of a new UC student survey.

Some 82 percent of UC undergraduates said they were somewhat satisfied to very satisfied with their overall academic experience, and 73 percent expressed at least some level of satisfaction with their access to UC courses necessary to graduate, according to the results of the 2012 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey, released Monday.

The satisfaction rates were about equal for UC Irvine, which posted an 81 percent overall satisfaction rate and a 74 percent course-availability satisfaction rate.

At the same time, when it comes to value, only 60 percent of UC undergraduates said they were somewhat satisfied to very satisfied, down from 71 percent two years ago.

The perceived-value rating is even lower at Orange County's only UC campus, with 54 percent of UC Irvine undergraduates expressing some degree of satisfaction, down from 61 percent two years ago.

Sharon Salinger, dean of UC Irvine's undergraduate education division, said the value rating wasn't a reflection of the quality of a UC education; rather, it was primarily a reflection of its cost.

"Maybe we're trying to be kind to ourselves, but students know it just costs more to come here and they're probably not getting more for that money," Salinger said. "When you look at the other questions – would you still come here, and was the education valuable – huge portions of them still think so."

The survey findings were based on responses from about 63,500 students. The Web-based survey is administered biennially to all UC undergraduates; the response rate in 2012 was 36 percent.

Despite the sinking perceived-value ratings, some 84 percent of UC undergraduates reported they would "still choose to enroll" at their campus even "knowing what I know now." UC Irvine posted a similar rate of 82 percent.

Among the data buffeting the satisfaction metrics:

•Some 89 percent of UC students were somewhat to very satisfied with the quality of faculty instruction; at UC Irvine, it was 88 percent.

Some 85 percent reported at least some level of satisfaction with their access to faculty outside of a class; at UC Irvine, it was 86 percent.

Some 52 percent reported that at least one professor knew or had learned their name; at UC Irvine, it was 49 percent.

About 79 percent reported at least some level of satisfaction with their overall social experience; at UC Irvine, it was 76 percent.

Salinger said UC Irvine has a number of initiatives designed to improve its numbers.

For the past two years, a group of about two dozen faculty members, including deans, has met with Salinger to develop recommendations for improving student engagement, Salinger said. Studies have shown that students who engage one on one with faculty are more likely to be satisfied with their educational experience, she explained.

By this fall, the UCI Assessment Group will begin making recommendations to all faculty members – for example, holding more study sessions and roping in more students for office hours, Salinger said.

Also, a Student Advisory Committee of about 30 freshmen was formed in the fall to offer input twice a year, Salinger said.

"We pummel them with questions – the transition when they first arrived, their expectations, what they wished we had told them, what's good, what to change," Salinger said.

The group meets for its spring feedback session later this week, Salinger said.

Also in the survey findings released Tuesday, 43 percent of students said they planned to pursue an advanced degree immediately after graduation, down from 47 percent in 2008.

At UC Irvine, 44 percent of students were planning to continue their studies after graduation.

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